Developing apparatus



April 28, 1931. LANGSNER 1,802,977

DEVELOPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 23, 1928 89 56 H", '70 "i, I'

ma I50 136 '18 Patented Apr. 28, 1 931.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADOLPH LANGSNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE DIETZGEN COMPANY,

- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DEVELOPING Original application filed January 23, 1928, Serial No. 1928. Serial My invention relates to a developing apparatus for developing light sensitive material such as light sensitive paper by the action of an alkaline developing medium such '5 for instance as ammonia.

One of the objects of my invention is to expedite the development of the light sensitive material in the presence of ammonia by subjecting the light sensitive material to the 1 action of moisture, such for instance as water vapor or steam.

Another object of my invention is to expedite the development of the light sensitive material by the provision of a machine in which the paper to be developed is fed into the machine, passed through the enclosed developing chamber and then discharged from the machine in a continuous manner and wherein the feed of the light sensitive material may take place at an unusually rapid speed and be developed as it travels along by subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of moisture or steam either preliminarily to or during the time it is being subj ected to the action of the developing ammonia, particularly in gaseous form. An ancillary object of my invention resides in the provision of heating means for heating water vapor whereby the hot moisture or steam contacting with the light sensitive material to be treated, greatly expedites and increases the speed of the developing action.

Still another object of my invention resides in the provision of a machine wherein the light sensitive material as it passes through the machine is first subjected to the action of the heated water vapor and steam and thence immediately subjected to the action of ammonia gas and wherein the light sensitive material is carried in the relatively long tortuous path through the compactly arranged developing chamber and in a'manner such that the light sensitive material may travel at a maximum speed through the machine and is developed in a minimum time.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connec- APPARATUS 248,745. .Dirided and this application filed June 21, No. 287,139.

tion with the accompanying drawing wherein The single figure is a side sectional view of the preferred form of my invention.

This application is a division of my prior pending application, Ser. No. 248,745, filed January 23, 1928.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my present invention comprises a basal support or standard 2 on which is mounted a preferably vertically disposed cabinet d of substantially gas tight construction and being provided with a plurality of internal partitions 6 and 8 and 10 providing a main developing chamber 12, a degassing chamber 14 and a ventilating chamber 16. In addition, the rear upper portion of the frame is provided with a compartment 18 in which is mounted the power-driven drive shaft 20 having a worm 22 thereon meshing with a worm-gear 24 on a shaft 26 carrying a sprocket 28 which drives a sprocket chain 30 in turn driving another sprocket 32 on a shaft 34: having its bearings within-the cabinet, the chain 30 passing through the opening in the wall of the cabinet. The front of the cabinet is provided with a shelf 36 extending preferably the width thereof and disposed opposite an inlet feeding orifice 38 in the front wall 40 of the cabinet. This shelf 36 is hinged, as at 42, and is provided with a support 44 for holding the shelf in outward position. This shelf, likewise, extends the width of the machine and is provided with an overlying guide board 46 which has a dove-tailed cutout 48 extending preferably its width, and this cutout receives a flanged guiding strip 50 fastened to the underside of a shiftably mounted guide 52 which is constructed and arranged to be moved, at will, transversely across the shelf and guide strip 46 to provide a right angled guide surface against which the edge of the I light sensitive material, such as paper, may be placed so as to assure the strip or sheet being fed into the entrance 38 in correct alignment with feeding rolls hereinafter described. The under surface of the member 50 is provided with spaced notches 5 1 adapted to co-operate with a spring pressed plunger 56 zirranged frictionally to snap into the notches 54 on the guide strip 52 to hold the same in desired position of adjustment.

The upper chamber 12 within the cabinet 4 forms'a developing chamber and the intermediate smaller partitioned portion forms a chamber 14 containing a liquid adapted to be heated whereby to give off vapors for the purpose of removing occluded gases which have a very strong affinity for vapor particularly water vapor, and finally, the lowermost portion of the cabinet 4 provides a chamber 16 which forms a ventilating chamber and which is preferably provided with an open ing 58 to the atmosp ere and another opening connecting to a suction fan 60 for moving'a column of air through the ventilating chamber whereby finally to remove all traces of occluded gases and ammonia. In addition, the-bottommost chamber is provided with a bottom discharge outlet 62 which has located opposite it a deflector trough 64 of sheet metal terminating in a curl 66 at the front of the machine for receiving the developed sheets of paper or the continuous strip of paper as it is fed from the machine.

As a source of developing medium, I provide the developing chamber 12 with a series of tanks or pans 68, 70 and 72, which are preferably arranged in vertically superimposed spaced apart relation. These tanks have tops that are closed and are provided with suitable perforations 74 whereby the ammonia gas arising from the liquid ammonia 76 in the tank may pass through these perforations and contact with the light sensitive underside of the light sensitive material. I also provide the developing chamber with a traveling conveyor adapted to co-operate with the perforated surfaces of the tanks and which perforated surfaces comprise and form substantially rigid and stationary associated feeding surfaces over which the light sensitive material is adapted to be dragged by the feed of the traveling carrier thereacross. In the present instance the traveling carrier 78 comprises a plurality of spaced apart cords or relatively small. belts adapted to run about guide rolls. The guide rolls are arranged within the cabinet 12 in desired position so as to accomplish this feed.

In the present instance I provide an upper guide roll 80 around which the belt 78 passes and this upper guide roll cooperates with a sheet metal guide or extension 82 which is perforated as at 84 and immediately underlies. the roll 80. This extension 82 is an extension of the tank 68 or .a housing or tank 88 located beneath the roll 80 and is utilized forbridging the space between this tank 88 and the front portion of the tank 68 and to provide an associated extension surface of the upper walls of the tank 68. This tank 88 contains water in which an electric heater 89 is placed so as to vaporize. the-water within the tank 88; The vapor or steam from this Water rises through the perforations 84'0f the extension 82 and come into contact with the light sensitive side of the light sensitive material as it is fed into position between the cords passing around roll 80 and the reactive feeding surface of the extension 82.

In addition, the developing chamber 12 is provided with a plurality of guide rolls 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, and 102 for feeding the cord conveyor 78 therethrough. This cord conveyor is preferably driven by the guide roll 32 from the sprocket wheel on the shaft thereof. The guide rolls are provided with a series of spaced apart grooves in which the cords of the belt conveyor travel for the purpose of keeping them in correct spaced apart alignment. The cords 78, after passing over the perforated wall of the first tank 68, thence pass around the guide roll 90 to a point beneath the tank and in contact with the under wall thereof, thence around the guide roll 92 and thence over the surface of the tank from which point the cords continue over and under the remaining tank walls until they reach the guide roll 100 around which they pass and from thence through to opening 104 in the partition 8 into the first degassing chamber.

I preferably arrange the cords 78 so that they pass in a continuous manner through, not only the developing chamber 12 but also through the degassing chamber 14 and the ventilating chamber 16, and I preferably arrange this first cord conveyor 78 so that in addition to co-operating with the stationary reactive surfaces of the ammonia tanks, it also co-operates with another and independent cord conveyor and in such a manner that the light sensitive material is conveyed between the two cord conveyors through the other two chambers and is thence discharged from the main cabinet into the receiving trough 66. To this end I provide the following construction. In the degassing chamber 14 I provide a series of water containing pans or tanks 106, 108 and 110 which are preferably arranged in spaced apart super-imposed position within the chamber 14 and each contains a quantity of water. Adjacent the ends of each of these tanks I arrange feed rolls 112, 116, 118, 120 and 122 around which the guide conveyors, hereinafter described, pass. In addition, the tanks 106, 108 and 110 are provided with electric heating devices 124, 126 and 128 for heating water therein to provide water vapor or steam.

The lowermost chamber 16 is provided with a plurality of additional guide rolls 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144., 146, 148, and 150 about which pass the cord conveyors about to be described. In the degassin chamber 14 and the ventilating chamber 16 arrange an additional cord conveyor 152 which, at its uppermost portion, passes over the roll 102 in the ventilating chamber, thence passes through the opening 104 together with the first cord conveyor 78. These two conveyors passing together over the top of the open top pan 106 and thence around the roll 112, thence to the pan 106 and around roll 116 and thence in sequence around the two remaining pans 108 and 110, finally pass out through the opening 130 in the lower partition 10. From this point the two cord conveyors continue to pass in circuitous and tortuous paths about the feed rolls 132 to 146 at which point they pass together through the latter 146 and 148 opposite the discharge deflectors 154 where the light sensitive material is discharged from points between the belts through the outlet opening 62. At this point the belt 152 pases around the roller 146 thence toward the front of the machine and around the roll 150 and thence upwardly through an'opening 156 in the partition and thence around the roll 102inaeontinuous path. In a like manner the conveyor 78, after passing from the developing chamber, passes with cords 152 through the first chamber in which thewaterpans aremounted and thence around the rolls 132 to 148 inclusive, at which point these cords 78 pass upwardly at the rear of the machine through an opening 158 in the partition 10 thence through an opening 160 a in the upper partition 8 and thence over the roll 32 and back to the guide roll 80 at the front of the chamber and opposite the inlet,

thus in a continuous cycle. It will be appre ciated that all of the openings in the partition through which the cords pass are provided with packing strips of felt or rubber 162 for preventing the escape of gas through said openings while at the same time permitting the passage of cords therethrough and it will be further appreciated that the various guide rolls are provided with spaced apart grooves for one or more cord conveyors, maintaining them in spaced apart relation. In addition, the upper tanks are provided with sheet metal guides or deflectors 164 for passing the light sensitive material around the ends of the various tanks 68 to 72 inelusive.

It will thus be seen that my invention con templates the provision of means for subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of a water vapor such as steam and particularly a heated water vapor either prior to or during the time the light sensitive material comes into contact with the developing gas.

In the present day commercial machines, one of the important factors is to expedite the development of the paper while at the same time excluding the action of the ammonia gas from the atmosphere surrounding the developing apparatus. In my present invention I have accomplished this in a very novel manner by providing a tortuous path through which the light sensitive material passes during its travel through the developing chamber and at the same time, I am enabled to speed up the travel of the paper in this path of travel by treating the same to the action of hot water vapors so that I am enabled to speed up the development ofthe paper to practically twelve times that of my prior existing apparatus.

Any type of heating apparatus may be used, either electric or otherwise, and if desired the heating device need not be placed immediately in the water itself but may be placed outside of the heating tank 88. In addition, my invention-also contemplates the use of liquid ammonia within this tank 88 to be heated so as to give off not only the ammonia gas but also a percentage of water vapor which greatly hastens the speed with which the developing action takes places.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in order to develop either sheets or continuous strips of light sensitive paper or other material, it is fed through the opening 38 into position between the traveling cords 7 8 and the stationary upper surface of the tank 68 from which point it is dragged along by the action of the cords dragging over the relatively smooth top and bottom surfaces of these tanks. The light sensitive material is thus developed during its passage across the tops of these tanks by the action of the gases, ammonia gas in particular, passing through the apertures of these tank tops. After passing through the developing chamber the sheet is then passed, by means of the final guide 170, into position between the cords 7 8 and the co-operative cords 152 which pass through the opening 104 and thence carry the light sensitive material between them across the open tops of tanks 106, 108 and 110. In this chamber 14 the occluded ammonia gas in the light sensitive material such as paper, has a great affinity for the water vapor therein caused by heating the Water in the pans so that the ammonia will be drawn out of the surfaces of the paper and thereby I provide a very improved and quick and expeditious method and means for removing occluded gases from the light sensitive material. After passing from this chamber 14, the light sensitive material is thence carried by the traveling pairs of cords onto conveyors through the developing chamber wherein the material is subjected to a flow of fresh air which removes all traces of the gas from the paper before it is ultimately discharged from the cabinet opening discharge 62 into the sheet metal trough 66. It will also be appreciated that as an ancillary feature of my invention I propose to preliminarily moisten the light sensitive side of the paper or material by means of the moisture arising from the heated Water in the pan 166 disposed immediately at the inlet entrance of the cabinet. This is particularly efficacious and advantageous in developing since ammonia, having a great afiinity for water vapor and moisture, will produce the developing action much more quickly.

My invention also contemplates the disclosed process and apparatus for utilizing liquid ammonia as a source of develo ing medium instead of the gas arising rom the pans 68 to 74 and in this feature of my invention I propose to heat the liquid ammonia contained in the pan or tank so as to cause not only gas to rise therefrom for the purpose of developing light sensitive material, but in addition thereto a good percentage of water. vapor, steam or moisture which comes into contact with the developing ammonia gas will cause the quick developing action herein described. This may be carried out by either substituting liquid ammonia in the pan 166 or by providing heating means in the pans 68,70 and 72.

It will thus be seen that by reason of my improved apparatus I am enabled quickly and efiectively to develo light sensitive material and particularly light sensitive paper by the action of ammonia developing gas and ammonia liquid in a very short time and in a compact space and without the escape of gases to the atmosphere. Finally, it will.

be seen that my improved machine is en'- abled to continuously pass either sheets or continuous strips of light sensitive material in a continuous manner through the machine and while traveling develop the same and remove the occluded gases and discharge the sheets or continuous strips in finished condition in the receiver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for developing light sensitive material by the action of a chemically active gas, in combination, means creating an atmosphere of a developing gas, associated means for feeding light sensitive material along a predeterm ned path and a container for water located in the path of travel of said light sensitive material, a heater for said water to vaporize the same, said container and heater being constructed and arranged to subject the light sensitive material to the action of water vapor prior to its treatment by the developing gas.

2. In an apparatus for developing light sensitive material by the action of a chemically active gas, the combination of means for creating an atmosphere of a developing gas and feeding means for passing light sensitive material in a predetermined path therethrough, a container for water disposed at the infeeding end of the light sensitive material, a heater for said container, said heater and container being constructed and arranged to subject the light sensitive side of the light sensitive material directly to the action of the water vapor prior to its being subjected to the action of the developing gas.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of means forming a developing cabinet, an opening in said cabinet through which light sensitlve material may be fed, a tank associated with said developing cabinet adapted to hold a quantity of liquld ammonia, a perforated cover for said tank, a plurality of endless cords and a plurality of guide rolls disposed in relation to said tank and in relation to the infeed slot of the cabinet whereby to carry the light sensitive material across the top of the tank and in a predetermined path through the developing cabinet, said tank having its top formed as an associated feeding surface to cooperate with said endless cords for feeding light sensitive material along between the cords and top of the tank, a water container located at the front of the tank and directly adjacent the infeed inlet of the cabinet, and an extension feeding surface disposed over the water tank and perforated to permit the passage of steam or water vapor therethrough, a heater for said water tank, and means for operating said endless cords.

4. In an apparatus for developing light sensitive material by the action of a chemically active gas, the combination of a support frame, means carried. in the support frame for feeding light sensitive material along a. pre-determined path, means for subjectingthe light sensitive material to the action of heated water vapor, and means for thereafter subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of ammonia gas.

5. The herein described method of developing light sensitive material which consists in subjecting the light sensitive material as it travels along to the action of water vapor and thereafter subjecting the moistened side to the action of ammonia gas.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a relatively small developing chamber, feeding means in said chamber adapted to continuously feed light sensitive material through said chamber in a tortuous path substantially co-extensive with the area of said chamber, means for subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of ammonia gas as it passes through said chamber, and means for preliminarily subjecting said light sensitive material to the action of heated water vapor.

7. The herein described method of developing light sensitive material which consists in subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of steam and thereafter subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of ammonia gas.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of means forming an enclosing cabinet, a pan in said cabinet containing a quantity of water, a heater for said water to generate vapor, a pan containing liquid ammonia, a heater for liquid ammonia to generate ammonia gas and a traveling conveyor adapted to pass across the open top of said pans for feeding light sensitive material through the developing cabinet so as to develop the material.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of means forming an enclosing cabinet adapted to hold a quantity of developing gas, means for feeding light sensitive material through said cabinet, and means in said cabinet for subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of a developing gas, and means in said cabinet for preliminarily subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of heated water vapor to accelerate the development of the material by the action of the as.

10. In a device 0 the class described, the combination of means formin a cabinet providing means adapted to hold a quantity of developing gas, means for feeding light sensitive material through said cabinet and developing chamber, and means in said cabinet for subJecting the light sensitive material to the action of a heated developing gas, and means in said cabinet for'preliminarily subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of heated water vapor to accelerate the dlevelopment of the material by the action of t e gas.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of means formin a cabinet providing means adapted to hold a quantity of ammonia gas, means for feedin light sensitive material through said cabinet and developing chamber, and means in said cabinet for subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of ammonia gas, and means in said cabinet for preliminarily subjecting the light sensitive material to the action of steam to accelerate the development of the material by the action of the gas.

12. The herein described method which consists in treating light sensitive material sequentially with steam and ammonia gas.

13. A developing apparatus for developing light sensitive material by the action of a developing gas, said apparatus including a first container adapted to hold water, a second container adapted to hold liquid am monia, feeding means overlying said containers being open to permit the passage of water vapor and ammonia gas respectively therethrough and cooperatlve feeding means overlying said first feeding means constructed and arranged to receive light sensitive material between it and the first feedin means, and means for causing the light sensitive material to be fed by and between said first and second feeding means and over the tops of said first and second containers in sequence to cause the development of said light sensitive material.

14. A developing apparatus for developing light sensitive material by the action of a developing gas, said apparatus including a first container adapted to hold water, a second container adapted to hold liquid ammonia, feeding means overlyin said containers and arranged to permit t e passage of water vapor and ammonia gas respectlvely therethrough and cooperative feeding means overlying said first feeding means constructed and arranged to receive light sensitive material between it and the first feeding means, and means for causing the light sensitive material to be fed by and between said first and second feeding means and over the tops of said first and second containers in sequence to cause the development of said light sensitive material, and means for heating the water in the first container.

15. A developing apparatus for developing light sensitive material b the action of developing gas which inclu es a first container adapted to hold water and asecond container adapted to hold 1i uid ammonia, feeding means overlying said tanks, said feeding means being open to permit the passage of water va or and ammonia gas therethrough, and a shiftable cooperative feedin means overlying said first feedin means an arrangedto receive 1i ht sensitive material between said first an said second feeding means, and means for causing the movement of said second feeding means for feeding the light sensitive material across the to s of said first and second containers where y to cause the development of said material during its movement.

16. In a device of the class described, the

tion of hot water vapor and heated ammonia gas. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ADOLPH LAN GSNER. 

